Vehicle seat

ABSTRACT

A vehicle seat has shoulder restraints extending forward from a backrest. The shoulder restraints may extend forward of a seated occupant&#39;s shoulder, providing effective restraint of lateral movement. The seat may also include head and thigh restraints and a beam running horizontally across the backrest. The beam stiffens the backrest and may also stiffen the shoulder restraints or provide attachment points for fixing the seat to a vehicle roll cage.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to vehicle seats. In particular, the inventionrelates to seats for racing cars.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mass market vehicle seats generally include padded upholstery around aframework. The frameworks are generally complicated, allowing foradjustment of the seat. Such vehicle seats are usually not adapted toresist large lateral forces on an occupant of the seat, or to be fixedto a vehicle roll cage.

In vehicle seats for racing cars that, weight is very important. Thismakes complex framework undesirable. Also, users of seats in motorsports are likely to experience large lateral forces because ofcornering at high speeds, loss of control of the vehicle or collisions.

Vehicle seats with forwardly extending side portions are known.Generally these side portions extend only a short distance from theseat's backrest and so do not effectively restrain lateral movement ofthe driver. One such seat is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,379. Thisseat includes triangular side portions that are widest at the top,formed from a tubular framework. As shown in FIG. 3, the side portionsare padded to a laterally sloping shape, such that the ability of theseat to resist lateral forces on the driver is not strong. Furthermore,this structure is comparatively complicated and heavy. A similar seat isdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,679,854. Again the “side restraints” do notextend far from the seat back.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,897 discloses a vehicle seat with a lateral headrestraint. Again, this seat is a complicated structure. The seat doesnot provide lateral support other than around the head. US 2002/0038966describes a safety seat with head protection members but not shoulderrestraints.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle seat witheffective restraint of lateral movement of an occupant in the shoulderregion.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a vehicle seat witheffective restraint of lateral movement of an occupant in the shoulderand head region.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a vehicle seat witheffective restraint of lateral movement of an occupant in the thigh,shoulder and head region.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a vehicle seat withimproved means of fixing the seat to a vehicle and particularly to avehicle roll cage.

In a first aspect the invention provides a vehicle seat having:

a base and a backrest, and

shoulder restraints extending forward from the backrest,

wherein the shoulder restraints, in use, extend forward beyond theshoulder of a seated occupant and are adapted to restrain lateralmovement of the seated occupant in the occupant's shoulder region.

In a second aspect the invention provides a vehicle seat having:

a base and a backrest, and

a beam formed integrally with the backrest and extending substantiallyhorizontally across the backrest at about shoulder height of a seatedoccupant.

In a third aspect the invention provides a vehicle seat having:

a base and a backrest, and

a beam extending substantially horizontally across the backrest andincluding one or more fixture means adapted for fixing the seat to oneor more structural members of a vehicle.

In a fourth aspect the invention provides a vehicle seat having:

a base;

a backrest;

shoulder restraints extending forward from the backrest; and

head restraints extending forward from the backrest;

wherein the shoulder restraints are adapted, in use, to restrain lateralmovement of a seated occupant in the occupant's shoulder region and thehead restraints are adapted, in use, to restrain lateral movement of theseated occupant's head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a seat according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the seat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the seat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a first cross-section of the seat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the seat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a second cross-section of the seat of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a third cross-section of the seat of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a vehicle seat according to theinvention. The seat includes a base 1 and a backrest 2. The base 1includes thigh restraints 3 that extend upwardly from the base andrestrain lateral movement of an occupant of the seat in the thighregion. Preferably the thigh restraints extend generally perpendicularlyto the base.

Shoulder restraints 4 extend forward from the backrest 2 and restrainlateral movement of the occupant in the shoulder region. Preferably theshoulder restraints extend generally perpendicular to the backrest andextend forward of the shoulder of a seated occupant, to effectivelyrestrain lateral movement of the seated occupant.

Head restraints 5 extend forward from the backrest 2 and restrainlateral movement of the occupant's head. Preferably the head restraintsextend approximately perpendicular to the backrest.

The seat includes a number of fixture points 6, 7, 8 for fixing the seatto structural members of a vehicle framework. In particular, fixturepoints 8 are adapted for fixing the seat to a roll cage or otherstructural member of a vehicle. Preferably the seat also includesfixture points 11, 12 near the ends of the head and shouldersrestraints. These fixture points 11, 12 may be fixed to the structure ofthe vehicle, or may be used to fix guide points for webbing type nets,for example.

The seat includes apertures 9, 10 for allowing passage of a safetyharness to restrain movement of the occupant in the event of a crash.

Preferably the seat comprises an integrally formed shell with padding,upholstery, coverings etc applied thereto. The outer edge of the shellis rolled to the outside along its perimeter, providing a strong, smoothedge.

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the seat of FIG. 1. The seatincludes a beam 20 that extends horizontally across the backrest 2. Thebeam serves to strengthen the backrest and preferably extends forwardalong the shoulder restraints 4. The beam 20 also provides fixturepoints 8 adapted for fixing the seat to a vehicle roll cage or the like.Preferably the beam 20 is formed integrally with the backrest 2.

A second beam 21 may also be provided, extending horizontally across thebackrest and extending forward along the head restraints. This beam maybe linked with the beam 20 by a vertical beam 22. The beams 20, 21, 22may be formed in a single piece and may be formed integrally with thebackrest. The assembly of beams 20, 21, 22 gives greater strength to theupper part of the backrest and especially to the shoulder restraints 4and head restraints 5.

FIG. 3 shows a top view of the seat of FIG. 1, showing the headrestraints 5 and shoulder restraints 4 extending forward from thebackrest 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-section through the seat, along the lineG-G in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the vehicle seat. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectionthrough the shoulder restraints 4, along the line F-F in FIG. 5 showingthe profile of beam 20. FIG. 7 is a cross-section through the headrestraints 5, along the line H-H in FIG. 5 showing the profile of beam21.

The invention provides a vehicle seat that provides effective restraintof lateral movement of a seated occupant in the shoulder region. Theseat may also restrain the occupant in the head and thigh regions. Asthe seat is preferably integrally formed with one or more beams acrossthe backrest, it is lightweight and strong. The seat is also more firmlyfixed to the vehicle structure than prior seats. This leads to greatersafety, but also allows a lighter seat with a less comprehensiveframework.

While the present invention has been illustrated by the description ofthe embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been describedin detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or inany way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail.Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details, representative apparatus andmethod, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly,departures may be made from such details without departure from thespirit or scope of the Applicant's general inventive concept.

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A vehicle seat having: a base and a backrest, shoulder restraints extending forward from the backrest, wherein the shoulder restraints, in use, extend forward beyond the shoulder of a seated occupant and are adapted to restrain lateral movement of the seated occupant in the occupant's shoulder region, and at least one of the shoulder restraints has a fixture point.
 19. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 18, wherein the base includes a seat portion and thigh restraints extending upwardly at the sides of the seat portion and wherein the thigh restraints are adapted to, in use, restrain lateral movement of the seated occupant in the occupant's thigh region.
 20. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 18, further including a beam extending substantially across the backrest and forward along the shoulder restraints, wherein the beam is formed integrally with the backrest and is structured to extend substantially horizontally across the backrest at about shoulder height of a seated occupant.
 21. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20 wherein the beam includes one or more fixing points for fixing the seat to one or more structured members of a vehicle.
 22. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 18, wherein each shoulder restraints has a fixture point near the end thereof.
 23. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 18, further including head restraints extending forward from the backrest; wherein the head restraints are adapted, in use, to restrain lateral movement of a seated occupant's head.
 24. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 23, wherein the head restraints include fixture points.
 25. The vehicle seat as claimed in claim 24, wherein the fixture points are located near the ends of the head restraints.
 26. A vehicle seat having: a base, a backrest, shoulder restraints extending forward from the backrest, head restraints extending forward from the backrest, one or more fixing points to fix the seat to one or more structural members of a vehicle, and the head restraints and shoulder restraints include fixture points, wherein the shoulder restraints are adapted, in use, to restrain lateral movement of a seated occupant in the occupant's shoulder region and the head restraints are adapted, in use, to restrain lateral movement of the seated occupant's head.
 27. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 26 wherein the fixture points are located near the ends of the head restraints and shoulder restraints.
 28. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 26 further including a first beam extending across the backrest and forward along the shoulder restraints.
 29. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 28 further including a second beam extending across the backrest and forward along part of the head restraints.
 30. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 29 further including a vertical beam extending along the backrest and linking the first and second beams.
 31. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 26 wherein each shoulder restraint includes a fixture point.
 32. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 26 wherein the shoulder restraint fixture point is located near an end of the shoulder restraint.
 33. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 26 wherein each head restraint includes a fixture point.
 34. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 33 wherein each fixture point is located near an end of the head restraint.
 35. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 28 wherein the part of the beam which extends across the backrest includes one or more fixing points.
 36. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 20 further including a second beam extending substantially horizontally across the backrest and forward along part of the head restraints.
 37. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 18 wherein each shoulder restraint includes a fixture point.
 38. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 37 wherein each head restraint includes a fixture point.
 39. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 37 wherein the fixture point in each of the shoulder restraints and head restraints is located near an end thereof.
 40. A vehicle seat as claimed in claim 36 wherein a vertically orientated beam extending along the backrest links said beam and the second beam. 